Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Ladies and Gents, my apologies for taking so long to post here. However, your waiting was not in vain, because boy, do I have a winner for you!

I will be the first to admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of baked spaghetti...until now. Maybe it's because I remember it always being dry or covered in grease. That's not the case with this recipe! Here it is:

6. In a large, well greased baking dish (I used 13x9), spoon half of the pasta mixture--making sure you form a fairly even layer. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese on top.

7. Spoon the remaining pasta mixture over the cheese, until completely covered. Spinkle top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese with the parmesan cheese.

8. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Be careful that it doesn't touch the cheese! You want to keep all of that cheesy goodness on the pasta :) To facilitate this, you can spray the foil with cooking spray, if you wish.

9. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly. Let the dish stand 5 minutes before serving.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Everyone loves banana pudding. Well, at least the people I trust love banana pudding. We all know the classic recipe. You know, the kind made with those 'nilla wafer cookies. Not the case here, friends! I tossed the wafers for decadent, butter cookies. Don't worry though, this recipe won't expand your waistline. Although, I suspect if you inhale the whole dish, it just might :) Moderation, right?

Make this dish. You will become a rockstar at your next brunch or other get together. Heck, make it for Sunday dessert!

Oh, in case you were wondering....Yes, I purposefully left the "g" off in "pudding." Alright, enough talking. Let's eat!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!! Boy, 2012 sure did go by quickly! Anyone else feel like time just flies by as you get older? Where's the rewind button? ;-) I hope you have a blessed start to 2013---check out the recipe below! It's a great way to kickstart your year with some healthful comfort food!!

Yes, the following recipe is quite a mouthful. A mouthful of deliciousness, that is. With ingredients like quinoa, and better for you chicken sausage, you won't have to deviate from your New Years resolution of losing weight....or simply just eating better.

So you might be asking how this is healthy if it involves cheese. Well, you can't have mac n' cheese without cheese!!! That's just wrong. The star ingredient here is quinoa (prounced keen-wah). Don't worry if you thought it was prounced KIN-OAH--that's how my dad thought it was pronounced.

Why quinoa? Well, where to begin.
1. Quinoa is rich in fiber, and keeps you full.
2. Quinoa is chalk full of iron
3. It's a complete protein. Do you know that it has all 9 essential amino acids? Well now you do.
4. Quinoa has riboflavin. (Yeah, I don't really know what that is either, but it improves enegery within brain & muscle cells.)

1. Heat oil in a thick bottomed medium-ish sauce pot over medium heat. When oil is hot, add in onions & green chiles. Cook for 3 minutes. Add in the chicken sausage, and cook for another 3 minutes--or until onion is tender.

3. Add in chicken stock. Cover and reduce heat to medium low (should be simmering). Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes.

5. In a small dish, whisk together milk & the egg. Next, gently fold the egg mixture into the quinoa mixture. Add in the cheddar cheese, mixing well so that some of the cheese starts to melt. Don't worry if it's a little "soupy." It will thicken/stand up in the oven. Pour into baking dish, sprinkling parmesan cheese over the top. Add more salt & pepper, if desired.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges turn a pretty golden color.

Makes 4 generous servings. Pairs nicely with a green salad.

Other information8 WWpts+ per serving

Points calculated using the WW Recipe Builder on weightwatchers.com). Points may vary based on the different products used.

About Me

Hi, I'm Laura. Welcome to my food blog. If you haven't been able to tell, I love to cook! More importantly, I like making my favorite foods healthier. My goal is to show everyone that healthy food doesn't have to be gross. I'd probably describe myself as a healthy mix of Bridget Jones, Lucille Ball, and Scarlett O'Hara. Join me on my ongoing adventure in the kitchen...Just don't forget to grab a spoon :)